Grounded or Ungrounded

[jmarc]

Does the inverter or the installer dictate if the system is grounded or ungrounded? I was reading specs on a conext 2524 inverter and its a negative grounded system by default but has the option to lift the ground. Not sure which route to take. Grounded or ungrounded.

[TomW]

From my experience on a recently installing a grid tie system:

The inspector and the electrician were both adamant about grounding everything and then ground some more.

It seems to be that you cannot have too much grounding. Lots of bonding together, as well.

I am no expert just passing on what they required here.

Bottom line would be ask what the local inspector wants to see and then do that. Ask the manufacturer if the installer is not knowledgeable.

This is one of those questions that is best answered by a local expert rather than online because it is not really a simple question.

Tom

[Halfcrazy]

Typically speaking the grid tie inverter will be a grounded or ungrounded design and that drives this. Usually in a battery charging enviroment the system is grounded

[jmarc]

Thanks for the info!

[sigp2101]

Typically speaking the grid tie inverter will be a grounded or ungrounded design and that drives this. Usually in a battery charging enviroment the system is grounded

So what happens when lightning hits in close proximity to grounded battery system. Will grounded system bring lightning into the house?

[CDN-VT]

YUP !
Too good of ground made my Sailboat have a sheet lightning strike , & many vessels around were plating my zincs .
I installed a ground detection & limiting unit .
Alana is 54' AWL of prego guppy

VT

[Resthome]

YUP !
Too good of ground made my Sailboat have a sheet lightning strike , & many vessels around were plating my zincs .
I installed a ground detection & limiting unit .
Alana is 54' AWL of prego guppy

VT

And if you are plugged into shore power it gets a lot more interesting. And ELCI are recommended.

[CDN-VT]

Yes the only time I had real problems was at one marina when someone had their vessel wired incorrectly & cause problems for many.   
We still got hit with lightning , but I didn't know it & I was a live-a-board in them years.

[sigp2101]

YUP !
Too good of ground made my Sailboat have a sheet lightning strike , & many vessels around were plating my zincs .
I installed a ground detection & limiting unit .
Alana is 54' AWL of prego guppy

VT

I guess grounding in marine world would be called "watering" :0

[Jacotenente]

Def ground...with a short run, if possible. I had to bore a hole through my garage cement floor and then pound in a grounding rod. All my equipment has separate/dedicated ground cables to the rod with their own clamps. Works well. Electrician looked it all over, smiled, and simply said, "Cool!".

Chris

[niel]

grounding i am in favor of for many reasons. can you ground too much? maybe because if you are grounded that well compared to the rest of the environment it could by its very nature be more attracted to you. i'd rather take that chance and still ground everything because charges can build up on ungrounded systems and arc over can occur without even being hit by the lightning. all lightning suppression depends on having a ground. one does have to do it right though or you can make things worse. i summarize and say that if you don't know what you are doing with it and i can 2nd guess this by your even asking the question, then let professionals handle it.